Public Statements

Press Release

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced a $1 million grant for services to assist approximately 400 at-risk or homeless veterans in Monmouth, Middlesex, Ocean and Burlington Counties. The Sixth District includes areas in both Middlesex and Monmouth counties. The grant was awarded to the nonprofit organization United Veterans of America Inc. (Soldier On) under the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program.

According to a count in January 2011 from the VA, there were 67,495 homeless veterans in the U.S. Through the SSVF Program, the VA aims to stabilize housing for very low-income veteran families. The grants are awarded to non-profits and consumer cooperatives that offer eligible veteran families outreach, case management, and assistance obtaining VA and other public benefits such as health care or transportation services. "It is our responsibility as a nation to help those who served and protected our country, and the current level of veteran homelessness is a tragedy and a call to action," said Pallone. "This funding will go a long way towards helping veterans in our community stay in their homes or transition to permanent housing and help us end veteran homelessness once and for all."

In total, the VA is awarding nearly $100 million in grants this year under the under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program that will help approximately 42,000 homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families. The grants are going to 151 community agencies in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.